57:1 And now it came to pass that I received an
epistle from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would
deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken that
he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us.

57:2 But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we
were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of
Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the
prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves
unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners
on exchange.

57:3 And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would
not exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make
preparations to go against the city of Antiparah.

57:4 But the people of Antiparah did leave the city,
and fled to their other cities, which they had possession
of, to fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell
into our hands.

57:5 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of
the reign of the judges.

57:6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of
the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of
provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the
land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the
number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of
the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my
little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were
strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought
unto us.

57:7 And it came to pass that it was our desire to
wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect
the city Cumeni.

57:8 And now behold, I will show unto you that we
soon accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force,
or with a part of our strong force, we did surround, by
night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were to
receive a supply of provisions.

57:9 And it came to pass that we did camp round
about the city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our
swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not
come upon us by night and slay us, which they attempted
many times; but as many times as they attempted this
their blood was spilt.

57:10 At length their provisions did arrive, and they
were about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of
being Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take
them and their provisions.

57:11 And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off
from their support after this manner, they were still
determined to maintain the city; therefore it became
expedient that we should take those provisions and send
them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of
Zarahemla.

57:12 And it came to pass that not many days had
passed away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes
of succor; therefore they yielded up the city unto our
hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in
obtaining the city Cumeni.

57:13 But it came to pass that our prisoners were so
numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our
numbers, we were obliged to employ all our force to keep
them, or to put them to death.

57:14 For behold, they would break out in great
numbers, and would fight with stones, and with clubs, or
whatsoever thing they could get into their hands,
insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of them
after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war.

57:15 Therefore it became expedient for us, that we
should put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla; and
also our provisions were not any more than sufficient for
our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken
from the Lamanites.

57:16 And now, in those critical circumstances, it
became a very serious matter to determine concerning
these prisoners of war; nevertheless, we did resolve to
send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we
selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our
prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla.

57:17 But it came to pass that on the morrow they did
return. And now behold, we did not inquire of them
concerning the prisoners; for behold, the Lamanites were
upon us, and they returned in season to save us from
falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to
their support a new supply of provisions and also a
numerous army of men.

57:18 And it came to pass that those men whom we sent
with the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as
they were about to overpower us.

57:19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and
sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before
the Lamanites, and did administer death unto all those
who opposed them.

57:20 And as the remainder of our army were about to
give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand
and sixty were firm and undaunted.

57:21 Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform
every word of command with exactness; yea, and even
according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did
remember the words which they said unto me that their
mothers had taught them.

57:22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those
men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to
whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did
beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to
the city of Manti.

57:23 And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not
all destroyed by the sword; nevertheless,
we had suffered great loss.

57:24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites
had fled, I immediately gave orders that my men who had
been wounded should be taken from among the dead, and
caused that their wounds should be dressed.

57:25 And it came to pass that there were two
hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had
fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless,
according to the goodness of God, and to our great
astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there
was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither
was there one soul among them who had not received many
wounds.

57:26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to
our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while
there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And
we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God,
because of their exceeding faith in that which they had
been taught to believe--that there was a just God, and
whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by
his marvelous power.

57:27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have
spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and
they do put their trust in God continually.

57:28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus
taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead
and also the dead of the Lamanites, who were many,
behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the prisoners
whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla
with.

57:29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who
was appointed to guard them down to the land.

57:30 And now, these are the words which Gid said
unto me: Behold, we did start to go down to the land of
Zarahemla with our prisoners. And it came to pass that we
did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out
to watch the camp of the Lamanites.

57:31 And they cried unto us, saying--Behold, the
armies of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of
Cumeni; and behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and
will destroy our people.

57:32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear
their cries, which caused them to take courage; and they
did rise up in rebellion against us.

57:33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion
we did cause that our swords should come
upon them. And it came to pass that they did in a body
run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of
them were slain; and the remainder of them broke through
and fled from us.

57:34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not
overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the
city Cumeni; and behold, we did arrive in time that we
might assist our brethren in preserving the city.

57:35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the
hands of our enemies. And blessed is the name of our God;
for behold, it is he that has delivered us; yea, that has
done this great thing for us.

57:36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had
heard these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy
because of the goodness of God in preserving us, that we
might not all perish; yea, and I trust that the souls of
them who have been slain have entered into the rest of
their God.